Physiology

1. The study of the functions of the human body.

2. The normal functions of the body.

The term physiology is biomedical. Chinese medicine explains physiology in terms of the items listed below.

Elements of Physiology

Bowels and viscera

• Five viscera
  • Heart
  • Lung
  • Spleen
  • Liver
  • Kidney
• Six bowels
  • Stomach
  • Small intestine
  • Large intestine
  • Gallbladder
  • Bladder
  • Triple burner
• Pericardium
• Extraordinary organs

Qì, blood, essence, and fluids

• Qì
• Blood
• Essence
• Fluids

Channels and network vessels

• Twelve channels
  • Hand greater yīn (tài yīn) lung channel
  • Hand yáng brightness (yáng míng) large intestine channels
  • Foot yáng brightness (yáng míng) stomach channel
  • Foot greater yīn (tài yīn) spleen channel
  • Hand lesser yīn (shào yīn) heart channel
  • Hand greater yáng (tài yáng) small intestine channel
  • Foot greater yáng (tài yáng) bladder channel
  • Foot lesser yīn (shào yīn) kidney channel
  • Hand reverting yīn (jué yīn) pericardium channel
  • Hand lesser yáng (shào yáng) triple burner channel
  • Foot lesser yáng (shào yáng) gallbladder channel
  • Foot reverting yīn (jué yīn) liver channel

• Eight extraordinary vessels
  • Governing vessel
  • Controlling vessels
  • Thoroughfare vessel
  • Yīn and yáng springing vessels
  • Yīn and yáng linking vessels

• Other elements
  • Twelve channel divergences
  • Fifteen network vessels
  • Twelve channel sinews
  • Twelve cutaneous regions

See also constitution.